Nasal osteotome



NASAL OSTEOTOME Filed Aug. 15, 1967 34 38 INVENTOR.

FRANK F. RUBIN ATTORNEYS- FIG. 5

United States Patent 3,467,100 NASAL OSTEOTOME Frank F. Rubin, 795Southern Artery, Quincy, Mass. 02169 Filed Aug. 15, 1967, Ser. No.660,767 Int. Cl. A61b 17/16, 17/24, 17/32 US. Cl. 128305 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a hand tooldesigned to facilitate the production of a lateral osteotomy as well asto serve as a tool to incise the cephalic ends of the nasal bones topermit infracture of the bones in the nose. For this purpose the tool ismade with a handle at an end of which is a U-shaped projection one legof which is adapted to be inserted in a nostril, the other leg beingoutside in position to be struck by a hammer. For a more completeunderstanding of the invention, reference may be had to the followingdescription of embodiments thereof, and to the drawing, of which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a tool embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an edge view of the same. Both FIGURES 1 and 2 show theinstrument that is used for incising the nasal bones cephalically and ina horizontal plane;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of theinvention; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 show other modified forms of the invention.

The tools illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are designed for use toincise the bones along the nasomaxillary line either as a continuousvertical or oblique incision with instrument shown in FIGURE 3, or toproduce multiple interrupted incisions with instruments shown in FIGURES4 and 5.

As illustrated on the drawing, the tool consists of a handle with aforked end which is U-shaped, having two parallel legs. One of the legshas a sharp edge for cutting on one or more points to make perforationsalong the nasomaxillary line thus producing lateral osteotomy to permitinfracture of bones closing the roof of the nose while maintaining areasof periosteal integrity.

In the instrument shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the forked end comprisesparallel legs 12 and 14. The end of the leg 12 is curved outward as at16 and terminates in a sharp cutting edge 18 which projects away fromthe leg 14 and is perpendicular to the plane of the legs 12 and 14. Theleg 14 has an extension 20 projecting away from the leg 12 in the planeof the legs 12 and 14 at right angles to the leg 14. The extension has aplane end face 22 adapted to be struck by a hammer or other strikingtool. In using this tool, the leg 12 is thrust into a nostril of thepatient until the chisel edge '18 is at the spot where an incision is tobe made, the leg 14 being outside of the nose.

When the tool is in place, the end 22 of the leg 14 1s tapped with ahammer.

The tool shown in FIGURE 3 has a handle 10 with a U-shaped end one leg14 of which has an extension 20 with an end face 22 to be tapped by ahammer. The other leg 24 has on its outer edge a sharp blade 26projecting away from the leg 14 in the plane of the legs 14 and 24 Thistool or instrument may be used to make multiple perforations instead ofa straight incision in the nasomaxillary line by merely elevating thehandle to permit the point of blade 26 only to perforate along thenasomaxillary line.

The tool shown in FIGURE 4 is essentially similar to that shown inFIGURE 3 except that the blade edge is serrated, forming a series ofsharp points which make a line of perforations when the tool is struck.For this purpose the leg 30, which is parallel to the leg 14, has ablade on its outer edge which is serrated to form a series of points 32arranged to make a series of spaced perforations when the extension 20is struck on its end face 22.

The tool shown in FIGURE 5 is similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2except that instead of having a chisel edge 18, the leg 34 has aninwardly curved end portion 36 terminating in a sharp point 38. In eachcase, the two legs of U-shape are substantially equal in length so thatthe cutting edge or punching point is in line with the extension 20 andtherefore in line with the impact blows of a hammer striking the end 22.

These tools thus facilitate infracture of the bones of the nose by, (a)incising the bones cephalically in a horizontal direction at any pointselected by the operator using the instrument shown in FIGURE 1 andentering through the nostril, and (b) incising the bones obliquely alongthe nasomaxillary line which represents the lateral surface of the nose,using instrument in FIGURE 3 to cut through the bone after placing theblade in through the nostril along the nasomaxillary line and strikingthe plane end 22. In this manner it facilitates the closing of the nasalroof in a more precise manner and the lateral osteotomy permits thenarrowing the nose. When using the modifications of this instrument asshown in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5, which is introduced like the instrumentsshown in FIG- URES 1 and 3, multiple perforations may be made along thenasomaxillary line, permitting closure of the nasal roof and narrowingof the nose, while at the same time, maintaining areas of periostealintegrity.

The tools shown on the drawing are each made in one piece, but ifdesired, the cutting or punching ends can be made detachable forreplacement by a fresh element when the blade or point becomes dull ordamaged.

I claim:

1. A nasal osteotome comprising a handle with a forked end, said endhaving two parallel legs one of which has a sharp element facing awayfrom the other leg, said other leg having an extension projecting awayfrom the first said leg and having an end face adapted to be struck by ahammer.

2. A nasal osteotome as claimed in claim 1, said sharp element being achisel edge projecting horizontally and away from said other leg.

3. A nasal osteotome as claimed in claim 2, said chisel edge beingperpendicular to the plane defined by said legs.

4. A nasal osteotome as claimed in claim 2, said chisel edge being inthe plane defined by said legs.

-5. A nasal osteotome as claimed in claim '1, said sharp element being asharp point.

3 6. A nasal osteotome as claimed in claim 1, said sharp element beingseries of sharp points in a line in the plane defined by said legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,833,365 11/1931 Lamke 1283292,029,495 2/ 1936 Lowe 128-305 1,392 12/1822 France.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

